Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed.
We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight!
Lo writes:
I could really use the power of the hive mind to find a name for my daughter, due in November.
Siblings are Aurelia Rae and Teodor Beckett.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congrats on baby number three!
Let’s talk about your style for a minute. When it comes to first children, I think style is one of those discussions that can be glossed over. Maybe you say you’re all about classic names but end up choosing Avery over Beatrice. That’s fine! Happens all the time.
But when you have two children already, especially when their names go together so well?
Style matters, because parents are forever striving to balance such things.
Aurelia and Teodor feel traditional but unexpected, nicely pan-European, delightfully elaborate. Both can be shortened, but in full? They’re rich in sound and meaning. And they’re current names, the kind of names that fit in on the playground, while still standing out – just a bit.
So we’re looking for a girl’s name that is:
- At least three syllables
- Has plenty of history
- Doesn’t sound too much like her siblings’ names
- Feels a little bit timeless, but very at-home in our moment, too
- Pairs well with a briefer, more modern middle
That’s a big list of requirements, and lots of names feel like they might fit … which feels like a really big challenge, doesn’t it?
A SISTER FOR AURELIA and TEODOR
CELESTE
Aurelia mixes strength with a certain prettiness. I think that’s true for Celeste, too, even though maybe it’s a little short.
DAVINA
Despite the long-time popularity of classic David, Davina has never quite caught on. But it fits with favorites like Olivia and Elena.
HELENA
Often I don’t suggest Helena because pronunciation can be a headache. But that’s true for Aurelia and Teodor, too, so I suspect that won’t scare you off a great name.
MARIANA
Like Teodor, Mariana is a classic. But it’s not often heard, at least not today. Then again, it depends on your frame of reference. Mariana ranks in the Top 100s of the Czech Republic and Chile. It’s big in Brazil. Spell it Marianna, and it also makes the Top 100 in Poland. Still, it feels just slightly different, just like Aurelia and Teodor.
PALOMA
I’m not sure if Paloma would conflict with your given name or feel like a subtle nod? It’s such a lovely name, Spanish for dove, with all sorts of ties to Pablo Picasso. I love the way it feels as richly meaningful and symbolic as Aurelia.
PERSEPHONE
Speaking of meaning and symbolism, in myth, it’s Persephone that brings the change of seasons. If you’re on board with longer given names, Persephone feels like a match for Teodor and Aurelia. And while it’s relatively uncommon, it fits right in with Chloe and Penelope.
SERENA
One of the first names that came to mind. Serena means peaceful – literally, serene. It’s feminine, timeless, and works in several languages.
VERONICA
I’ve often called Veronica a quirky classic. I stand by that description, and yet, I don’t think that’s your style – but Veronica still feels like a fit. Maybe it’s the rhythm and length with Aurelia and Teodor, or maybe it’s the sense that all three names offer lots of history.
Overall, I’m stuck on Paloma – if it’s not a clash with your given name. My second choice is probably Serena. But let’s open this up to the community.
Gorgeous names and suggestions. Aurelia, Teodor, and Rosalie, Mirabel Beatrix, Loralei
Paloma is perfection.
Aurelia, Teodor &…
Viviana
Ottoline
Josefine
Delphine
Ariana
Rafaela
Sylvia
Marisol
Cosima
Mirabel
Roseline
Imogene
Odette
Mathilde
Juliette
Danica
Cecile
Olympia
Graciela
Agatha Quinn
Isadora or Theadora?
Love the other suggestions of Paloma, Celeste or Augusta. What about Cosima? Dove is a great MN.
Paloma Dove
Isadora Dove
I had aunts named Augusta and Aurelia and I’ve always thought that was a great sister set. Other favorites for you:
Philomena
Lucinda
Lydia
Julianna
Paulina
Sybil
My first thoughts were
Vivienne Wren
Genevieve
Elodie
Saskia
Alexandrine, Allegra, Anastasia, Annaliese, Antonia, Antoinette, Antonietta, Azalea, Belinda, Bianca, Bryony, Calista/Callista, Calliope, Cataleya, Cecilia, Christiana, Coraline, Cosima, Delphine, Elisabetta, Evelina, Fiona, Francesca, Gabriella, Genevieve, Giulietta/Julietta, Ilaria, Irina, Isabeau/Ysabeau, Iveta, Johanna, Lilia, Luciana, Lucienne, Lucinda, Ludovica, Maddalena, Magdalena, Marcella, Marguerite, Mathilde/Mathilda/Matilda, Melisande, Octavia, Ophelia, Olympia, Priscilla, Rosalba, Saskia, Serafina/Seraphina, Solana, Susannah, Victoria/Victorine,
Your children’s names are lovely- they have a sort of shimmery, glimmery air to them without feeling aloof. I’m loving the suggestions that also have this same feel, but with a different configuration of sounds (i.e. not ending with an “a”).
Names that strike me the most as having this same quality:
Celeste
Delphine
Fleur
Calliope
Amaryllis
My first thoughts were Beatrix or Estelle.
Someone mentioned Felicity above so seconding that.
Also suggesting Rosalind and Violetta.
Cressida
Elisabette
Esmeralda — could shorten to Esme
Isadora
Lucienne
Pernilla
Persephone
Sapphira — unfortunately, not an admirable woman from the Bible.
Seraphine/Seraphina
Tatiana
Wilhelmina
Your children’s names are just beautiful. I get kind of a Romanian vibe from them. Not sure if that’s intentional or not. That or Spanish perhaps as well. So here are some suggestions in that vein:
Catalina
Cecilia
Corina
Estella
Philomena
Irina
Luciana
Magdalena
Marina
Marisol
Ofelia
Silvia
I think my favorites are Catalina, Philomena, and Magdalena
Aurelia, Teodor, and Catalina
Aurelia, Teodor, and Philomena
Aurelia, Teodor, and Magdalena
Congrats! And happy name hunting!
Rosamund
Felicity
Beatrice
Georgiana
Winnifred
Middle names: Lily, Grace, Wren.
Aurelia, Teodore, and…
Claudia
Estella (stars to go with Aurelia’s gold)
Arethusa
Magdalene
Iliana
Margarite
Argentina (sliver to compliment Aurelia’s golden meaning)
Marisol
Rosalie
Sylvia
Thessaly
Congratulations and best wishes!
Evangeline
Marcella
Luciana
Rosalia
Josefina
Valentina
I’d be tempted to match the very matchy pattern of oh-RAY-lee-uh RAE… like Luciana Lou or Evangeline Eve or Josefina Joy!
I love Paloma and Celeste so much! Serena and Helena and actually Persephone are also amazing choices!
Other thoughts were Sylvia, Delphine, Felicity, Calliope, Rosalie, Coralie, and Selene (or Celine).
You have such beautiful taste in names, I’m sure whatever you choose will be amazing!
Cosmina
Irena
Renata
Zoraida
Isadora
Hyacinth
Ippolita
Delphinia
Sephora
Odessa
Ottilie? Bernadette? Jessamine? Bellamy?
Ottilie Jane
Bernadette June
Jessamine Kira
Bellamy Rose